The Gambian government has confirmed that at least 70 bodies have been recovered after a wooden fishing vessel carrying around 150 West African migrants capsized off the coast of Mauritania on Wednesday. Officials describe it as one of the deadliest disasters in recent years along the Atlantic migration route. The boat, which departed from Gambia nearly a week earlier, was packed with mostly Gambian and Senegalese nationals hoping to reach Spain’s Canary Islands. According to survivors, the vessel ran into trouble after days at sea. Mauritanian rescuers reported that only 16 people were found alive, while dozens remain missing and are feared dead. Recovery operations continued on Thursday amid rough sea conditions.
The tragedy underscores the extreme dangers of the Atlantic crossing, a route that has become increasingly used as tighter controls block Mediterranean passages. The crossing from West Africa to the Canary Islands is considered one of the world’s deadliest migration journeys due to strong Atlantic currents, overcrowded boats, and lack of navigation equipment. According to the European Union, more than 46,000 migrants reached the Canary Islands in 2024 the highest annual figure ever recorded. At the same time, rights group Caminando Fronteras documented more than 10,000 deaths at sea last year, a 58% increase compared to 2023.
In a statement, Gambia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed deep sorrow and urged citizens to avoid such dangerous journeys, warning that “irregular migration continues to claim countless lives of young Africans.” Senegalese authorities have also pledged to work with Mauritania to identify victims and support survivors. The latest accident adds to mounting pressure on West African governments and European partners to address the root causes driving irregular migration, including youth unemployment, poverty, and political instability.
